Automatic control for musical instruments.



A. F. HAUSS.

7 AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21, I912.

1,148,452. Patented July 27, 1915.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT IF. HAUSS, OF AURORA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO EDWARD F. OBERHELMAN, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, AND ONE-THIRD T0 GEORGE LUBREGI-IT, OF

COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed June 21, 1912. Serial No. 704,943.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT F. HAUSS, a

resident of Aurora, county of Dearborn, and

State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Controls for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is to produce new and improved control apparatus which is more effective and positive in operation that other similar apparatus known to me.

A further object is to produce a control apparatus provided with new and improved means for causing the apparatus to operate in conjunction with a coin receiving mechanism, so that even though several coins are delivered, one after another to the mechanism, each coin is delivered and credited before the apparatus completes the operation initiated by a previously delivered coin.

This and other objects I attain in an apparatus embodying the features herein described, and illustrated in the drawings ac companying and forming a part of this application.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of an apparatus embodying my invention, shown in connection with a diagram of wiring which may be employed for electrically connecting the electrically operated elements, included therein. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, portions being broken away for convenience of illustration. Fig. 3 is a simplified wiring diagram illustrating the system of wiring shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and which may be employed with the apparatus illustrated.

The apparatus illustrated is adapted to be employed in connection with the operating motor of a mechanically actuated musical instrument and also in connection with a coin-actuated mechanism, which is so arranged that it transmits a momentary current when actuated by a coin. It is to be understood, however, that my invention may be employed in connection with various instruments or machines, and also in connection with coin or otherwise actuated mechanisms which impart a mechanical or pneumatic, or any kind of an impulse.

The apparatus includes momentarily operative mechanism, which is herein shown as an electromagnet 4 and apparatus actuated thereby, and which is rendered operatlve by a momentary electrical impulse or current transmitted from a coin or otherwise actuated device, not shown. The winding of the magnet 4 is electrically connected with, and consequently operates in conjunction with, an electromagnet 5, which controls the operation of one element of a setting or adjusting device which, as V illustrated, consists of a make and break device 6, located in the circuit of an electromagnet 7 The magnet 7 is employed in the illustrated embodiment of my invention as the operating mechanism of a motor control switch 8, which is adapted to complete the circuit of the actuating motor of the musical instrument and consequently constitutes the control device of the instrument. Means are also employed for increasing the operative effect of the momentary current traversing the windings of the electromagnets 4 and 5. The means illustrated for accomplishing this is actuated by the magnet 4 and operates to transmit a secondary or auxiliary current through the windings of the magnets I and 5 and to thereby lengthen the period of their magnetization and particularly the period of the magnetization of the magnet 5. In addition to this I have employed means for rendering the magnets 4 and 5, constituting the controlling mechanism inoperative, as soon as the apparatus operated by electromagnet 5 has performed its function, so that the control mechanism will return at once to its normal position and be capable of operating immediately in response to a second m0- mentary current, or impulse initiated by the coin-actuated mechanism.

The coin-actuated mechanism-is diagrammatically illustrated at 9 in Fig. 3, and is adapted to complete a circuit which includes the windings of the magnets 4 and 5 and is connected across the feed lines of the actuating motor of the instrument.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown the apparatus inclosed within a box or casing 10, one end of which forms a terminal board for the apparatus and is provided with siX terminals or binding posts 11, 12, 1.4;, 15, 17 and 20. (See Fig. 3.) The post 11 is electrically connected to a positive feed wire which delivers current from any suitable source of electrical potential. The positive feed wire of the actuating motorwhich is diagrammatically illustrated at 12 in Fig. 3is connected to the post 12, which is adapted to be elec trically connected with the post 11 by means of the control switch 8. The negati e feed wire of the actuating motor is electrically connected to the post 14, and the negative feed wire, from the source of electrical potential, is electrically connected to the post 15. The posts 14 and 15 are electrically connected together by means of a wire 16. The post 17 is electrically connected to the post 11, and consequently to the positive feed from the source of potential, by means of a wire 18 and it is also electrically connected to one terminal of the electromagnet 5 by means of a wire 19. The post 20 is electrically connected to one terminal of the magnet 4 by means of a wire 21 and it is also adapted to be electrically connected to the post 14, and consequently to the negative feed wire, by means of the coin-actuated mechanism 9.

When the mechanism 9 is actuated to electrically connect the posts 14 and 20 current flows from the source of potential through the wire 18, the wire 19, the winding of the electromagnet 5, a wire 22, the winding of the electro-magnet 4, the wire 21 and through the coin-actuated mechanism 9 to the negative feed, which is electrically connected to the post 14. As has been described, the coin-actuated mechanism transmits a momentary current or impulse which is not of sufiicient duration to insure the operation of the mechanism controlled by the magnet 5 and for this reason the magnet 4 has been introduced into the circuit, just described, and is so constructed that the momentary current is capable of causing it to actuate an armature 23, and to thereby move a pair of spring terminals 24 into contact with each other. Thespring terminals are shown as located between the negative terminal of the magnet 4 and the post 14 and are adapted to electrically connect that terminal of the magnet 4 with the post 14, when they are moved into contact with each other. One of the terminals 24 is illustrated as electrically connected with the negative terminal of the magnet 4, by means of a wire 25 and the other terminal is shown electrically connected to the post 14 or to the post 15, by means of a wire 26. The effect of the operation of the armature 23, in response to a current traversing the winding of the magnet 4, is to cause current to flow from the positive lead or the post 17, through the windings of the magnets 4 and 5 and then back through the wire 25, the terminals 24, the wire 26 and the post 14 to the negative lead. The current flow through magnets 4 and 5 is maintained by the action of the magnet 4 which causes the terminals 24 to be held in contact with one another so that magnet 5 will remain energized and will consequently have to actuate its armature 28 in order to bring cut-out device 29, 29, to be hereinafter more fully described, into operation for breaking the circuit through the magnets. This increases the duration of current flow through the winding of the magnet 5 and thereby insures the operation of its armature 28.

The armature 28 is shown pivotally mounted so that it swings inwardly toward the magnet 5 when the magnet is energized. The free end of the armature 28 is shown connected to a pawl actuating finger 29, on which is mounted a pawl 30, arranged to engage and actuate a ratchet wheel 31 when the magnet 5 is energized. The finger 29 is also adapted to short circuit the winding of the electromagnet 4 for the purpose of rendering the electromagnet 4 inoperative and for thereby cutting off the flow of current through'the winding of the magnet 5, and rendering that magnet inoperative. This is accomplished by providing a cut-out device consisting of a flexible terminal 29 mounted on the terminal board and a laterally projecting terminal 29 mounted on the finger 29, which is adapted to engage the terminal 29, as the finger 29 moves forward in actuatingthe ratchet 31. The terminal 29 is electrically connected to one terminal of the magnet 4, by means of a wire 4. The flexible terminal 29 is shown connected to the other terminal by means of wire 21. In Fig. 3 the flexible terminal 29 is diagrammatically illustrated by means of a dotted line which connects the wires 21 and 22 in such a way as to short circuit the winding of the magnet 4. After the finger 29 has stepped the ratchet wheel 31 up one step, the flexible terminal engages the terminal 29 thus short. circuiting the magnet 4 and permits the armature 23 to move away from the magnet 4 and the spring terminals 24 to move apart, so that the flow of current, through the winding of the magnet 5, ceases. This permits the armature 28 to move back to the normal position, in response to the pressure of a spring 28 or other means employed for that purpose.

The ratchet wheel 31 is mounted on the spindle of one half of a make and break de vice, which forms a detail of my invention, and which is adapted to complete the actuating circuit of the electromagnet 7. The make and break device 6, as illustrated, includes an adjustable member or metal disk 33, which is preferably circular in form and is rotatively mounted on a spindle 34 from which it is electrically insulated by means of an insulating sleeve 34. It also includes a follower or a metal disk 35 which is similar to the disk 33 and is rotatively mounted on, and electrically insulated from, the

spindle 34 by means of sleeve 34. The disk.

35 is electrically connected to the wire 19, by means of a wire 36 and a brush 37, and the disk 33 is electrically connected to one terminal of the electromagnet 7 by means of a wire 38, and a brush 37 similar to the brush 37 The other terminal of the electromagnet 7 is electrically connected to the post 14, by means of a wire 39. The disk 33 is provided with a spring terminal 41 which is adapted to electrically connect the disks 33 and 35 when the disk 33 is turned, in response to the operation of the armature 28 of the magnet 5, to an advanced position with relation to the disk 35. The spring terminal 41, however, is so arranged that its free end projects into a slot or recess, formed on the disk 35 and does not electrically connect the two disks together when they occupy normal positions relatively to each other.

The disk 35 is provided with a ratchet wheel 42 which is similar to the ratchet wheel 31 and which is engaged by a pawl carried on an arm 43. The arm 43 is shown actuated by means of a bellows 44, which may be pneumatically controlled in any suitable manner, such for example as by the rewinding mechanism of the music roll of the mechanically actuated musical instrument. The bellows 44 is adapted to actuate the disk 35 through the agency of the ratchet wheel 42 and to cause it to turn about the mounting spindle 34. The purpose of this operation is to cause the disk 35 to follow the disk 33 and to move into the normal position with relation to it after the disk 33 hasbeen turned by the arm 29, through the agency of the ratchet wheel 31 and the pawl 30.

The operation of the apparatus is as fol-.

lows: When the coin-actuated mechanism is actuated to complete the electrical connection between the posts 14 and 20, a momentary current passes through the wire 19, the windings of the magnets 5 and 4, the wire 21, the post 20, the coin actuated mechanisms 9 and through the post 12 to the negative lead. This momentary flow of current is suflicient to fully magnetize the magnet 4 and to cause its armature to move inwardly and force the spring terminals 24 into contact with each other. This provides a second path of travel, or circuit, for the current, which remains closed after the coinactuated mechanism 9 has opened the circuit in which it is located. While the armature 23 is attracted by the magnet 4, current flows through the wire 19, the winding of the magnets 5 and 4, the wire 25, the terminals 24, the wire 26 and through the post 14 to the negative return lead. This continues the magnetization of the magnet 4 and insures the magnetization of the magnet 5, since the current continues to flow through the windings of both magnets until the armature 28 has moved, in response to the pull of the magnet 5, and has actuated the ratchet wheel 31 and moved the disk 33 one step in advance of the disk 35. The ratchet wheel is provided with a catch or spring actuated pawl 46, which operates to hold it in the advanced position. As the finger 29 moves forward the terminal 29 engages the flexible terminal 29 and thereby short circuits the winding of the mag net 4. This permits the terminal 24 to move apart and, stopping the flow of current through the winding of the magnet 4, permits the armature 28 and the finger 29 to move back to their normal positions. The stepping up of the disk 33, however, moves the terminal 41 into metallic contact with the disk 35 and thereby completes the ener gizing circuit of the magnet 7. This causes the armature 47 of the magnet 7 to move forward, in response to the pull of the magnet, and closes the switch 8, the movable member of which is mounted on the armature. The closing of the switch 8 delivers current from the post 11 through the switch bar 48 and the post 12 to the positive terminal of the motor, which is diagrammatically shown at 12 in Fig. 3. From the negative terminal of the motor the current passes through the post 14, the wire 16 and the post 15, back to the source of potential. The motor continues to operate as long as the switch 8 remains closed, and the switch 8 remains closed as long as the magnet 7 is energized. The flow of energizing current through the winding of the magnet 7 continues until the metallic connection between the disks 33 and 35 has been broken. This is accomplished by advancing or stepping up the disk 35, through the operation of the bellows 44, so that the terminal 41 is moved into the recess, provided in the disk 35. As soon as the magnet 7 is demagnetized, the armature 47 moves back in response to the pull of a spring or any suitable means, provided for retracting it, and opens the switch 8. Thisstops the actuating motor 12.

One of the features of my invention is that the apparatus embodying it is automatically adjusted or set, by the introduction of each coin into the coin-actuated mechanism, or by the passage of each momentary current through the winding of the magnet 4, so that the musical instrument, with which it is connected will play the required number of pieces for each coin so introduced, even though the coins are introduced, or the momentary currents are transmitted, while the instrument is operating in response to a previously transmitted impulse. This is accomplished, in the illustrated embodiment, by means of the make and break mechanism 6, which is so arranged that the adjustable disk 33 is automatically stepped up one step each time the armature 28 is actuated, and the follower disk 35 is stepped up each time the musical instrument has completed an operation initiated by a coin, or by the stepping up of the disk 33. The introduction of one coin into the coin-actuated mechanism causes the disk 33 to turn about its spindle one step in:

advance of the disk 35 and the introducing of several coins, for example, three, causes the disk 33 to move three steps in advance of the disk 35 and consequently the electrical connection between the disks 33 and 35 will not be broken until the bellows 44: has operated three times to advance the disk 35 three steps. The current will, therefore, continue to flow, through the winding of the magnet 7, and the switch 8 will be held in the closed position, until the disk 35 is advanced by the bellows to the normal position with relation to the disk 33.

In the apparatus illustrated the switch 8 is of the. multiple arc type and is constructed to prevent objectionable sparking. The movable portion of the switch consists of the bar 418, which is mounted on a fiber block carried by the armature 47 and is provided at its ends with adjustable contact screws 50. Each contact screw is arranged to project through a Slot provided in a stationary U-shaped terminal 51 when the switch is moved to the closed position. The terminals 51 are secured to the casing 10 of the apparatus and one is electrically connected with the post 11, While the other is electrically connected with the post 12. A flexible metal strip 52 is located along the inner face of each U-shaped terminal and is so located that it is engaged by one of the terminal screws 50 which projects through the slot in each terminal 51 and contacts the yielding strip 52 when the switch is closed. Each flexible metal strip 52 is electrically connected to its corresponding terminal 51 and its upper end is free to yield.

in response to the pressure of the screws 50. WVith this arrangement the switch 8 can be carefully adjusted so that both the terminal screws 50 will move out of contact with their respective terminals, at the same time and will thereby decrease the intensity of the are, produced by breaking the circuit.

In the Wiring diagram I have shown the wire 19 forming a leg of each of the operating circuits. This is for the purpose of protecting the apparatus against fraud and for preventing it from being set in operation by a manipulation of the electrical connections. IVith some systems of Wiring it might be possible to operate the apparatus by inserting a knife blade through the insulation of the wires and thereby electrically connecting adjacent wires. I avoid this by passing the wire 19 from terminal to terminal and by including it with each set of magnet feed wires. With such an arrangement the apparatus will be short circuited if the insulation of the wires is cut and the mechanism cannot therefore be meddled with.

As before stated, this invention is not limited to use in connection with automatic musical instruments; the principles embodied in it are particularly applicable to machines-of any character in which the operation is initiated by a momentary impulse or signal, and it will be understood that the claims, where not specifically limited to controlling apparatus for automatic musical instruments, are to be considered broad enough to be read into control apparatus of various characters.

It is obvious that many variations and changes in the details of construction will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art and will fall within the scope and spirit of this invention, and that many of the features shown and described may be omitted, or used, either alone or in association with others not shown or described. The invention is therefore not limited or restricted to the exact details of construction or arrangement shown and set forth.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In combination in an apparatus of the character described, a make and break device, a momentarily operative control mechanism means actuated thereby for actuating said control device and for rendering the control mechanism inoperative, and independently actuated means for rendering said make and break device actuating means inoperative.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a control switch, electrically actuated means for actuating said switch, a make and break device for controlling the operation of said means, comprising an adjusting disk and a following disk, a controlling mechanism for advancing said adj usting disk relatively to the following disk and independently operated means for advancing the following disk.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a control device, means for actuating. the control device, a controlling mechanism, a mechanism actuated thereby for stepping up said means, to cause said control device to move to an operative position, and means actuated by said last mentioned mechanism for rendering the controlling mechanism inoperative.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, an electrically actuated control device, a make and break device for controlling the operation of said control device, means for actuating said make and break device, and momentarily operative controlling mechanism for controlling the operation of said means and a cut-out device actuated by said means for rendering said controlling mechanism inoperative.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, an electrically actuated control device, a make and break device for controlling the operation of said control device, an electrically actuated controlling mechanism, means controlled thereby for actuating said make and break device, a cut-out device controlled by said means, for rendering the'controlling mechanism inoperative and independently operative means cooperating with said make and break actuating means in controlling the operation of said make and break device.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a switch, an electro-magnet adapted to operate the switch, a make and break device for controlling the delivery of current to the magnet, for controlling the operation of said switch, and an electro-magnet for controlling the operation of said make and break device.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a switch, an electro-magnet adapted to operate the switch, a make and break device for controlling the delivery of ourrent to the magnet, an electro-magnet for controlling the operation of said make and break device, and means cooperating with said device actuating magnet for increasing the period of its operation.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a switch, an electro magnet adapted to operate the switch, a make and break device for controlling the operation of said magnet, said device consisting of an adjusting disk and a following disk, an electromagnet adapted to step up said adjusting disk to complete the circuit of said switch operating magnet, a pneumatic bellows adapted to step up said following disk, to break the circuit to said switch operating magnet, and means operated by said adjusting disk operating magnet, for rendering said adjusting disk operating magnet inoperative.

ALBERT F. HAUSS.

Witnesses:

WV. THORNTON Boomer, E. W. MCCALLISTER.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

